Fearnan has just taken delivery of its own Public Access Defibrillator. A defibrillator is used to administer an electric shock to a person who is having a cardiac arrest and Fearnan’s defibrillator is designed to allow non-medical personnel to use it and save lives.

Pat Menzies (First Responders Team) and Graham Liney (Hall Committee) with the Defibrillator

The defibrillator is located at the village hall and can be used by any member of the public. A computer inside the defibrillator analyses the patient’s heart rhythm and determines if a shock is required to save the victim. If a shock is required, the defibrillator uses voice instructions and visual prompts to guide the user through the process of saving the person’s life.

There are 2 defibrillators in this area which were funded by wind farm money. The other one is located at Highland Safaris and more are planned for the future.

It is now widely recognised that lives can be saved if communities have the right equipment and people with basic life-saving skills on the spot. This is particularly important in rural communities, and this development means that Fearnan is now benefitting from both the availability of a defibrillator as well as the Community First Responders Scheme.

A Community First Responder is a member of the public who volunteers to help their community by responding to medical emergencies while the ambulance is on its way.

A training exercise for some of the First Responders

They are trained by the Scottish Ambulance Service in a wide range of emergency skills, and use equipment such as automatic external defibrillators and oxygen therapy.  They are able to provide an early intervention in situations such as a stroke, cardiac arrest or asthma attack and provide life saving treatment to people who are critically ill within the community, in the minutes prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

There are two First Responder teams on Loch Tayside, identified as North and South Loch Tay to the Ambulance Service. Fearnan is covered by the North Team (LT2 ) who take turns on a rota to respond to calls. Once a member of the public has called an ambulance, the Ambulance Control Centre will identify incidents that are appropriate for a First Responder to attend, and then contact the ‘on-call’ First Responder. Our First Responders are:

Pat Menzies, Caroline Pearce, Julie Riddell, Gordon Meek, Gavin Dot, Liz Stott, James Stott, and Ewan Weir.

More volunteers are being sought for the scheme, and if you are interested and have the time and energy, then please contact Ewan Weir on 830213.

The defibrillators and First Responders are important developments for our community, and will provide support in the minutes before an ambulance arrives. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should still dial 999 to call out an ambulance, which will be despatched by the Ambulance Control Centre.

Next time you’re passing the village hall, please check out the defibrillator – it’s on the wall by the door. There will be leaflet drop about it round the village and a training session held locally.

Fearnan Service of Remembrance

The Remembrance Service will be held at the War Memorial on Sunday 9th November, followed by home made soup and a roll in the village hall.  Please gather at the War Memorial at 10.50am.  If you would like a lift from the village hall car park to the memorial, please be in the car park for 10.40 am